I quit for my wife after tragedy, says Ferguson

In this file picture taken on Nov 23, 2012 Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (left) speaks to his wife Cathy before the unveiling of a statue of him at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England. Ferguson has revealed that loyalty to his wife, Cathy, was the key factor in his decision to retire from football management at the end of the current season. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Alex Ferguson has revealed that loyalty to his wife, Cathy, was the key factor in his decision to retire from football management at the end of the current season.

The 71-year-old Scot enjoyed an emotion-charged farewell in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Swansea City at Old Trafford on Sunday, his last home game after more than 26 years in charge of the new English champions.

The fixture came just four days after Ferguson's announcement that he is to retire stunned the football world and, after the celebrations that followed the victory, he took time to explain the reasons behind his decision for the first time.

"Around last Christmas," said Ferguson, when asked when he had decided to bring an end to his reign. "Basically, things changed when Cathy's sister died. She is isolated a lot now and I think a lot of the time, for 47 years, she has been the leader of the family, looked after our three sons and sacrificed herself for me.